6 Ways Supreme Court's Rulings Will Affect Gay Couples

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Two Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage announced today
(June 26) were hailed as landmark victories for the gay rights
movement, and will significantly change the recognition of legal
rights for many gay couples and their children.

Earlier today, in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court
struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited
lawfully married same-sex couples from accessing the federal
benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples and their families. Now
all marriages legally performed by states will be recognized by
the federal government.

The Court also dismissed a case on Proposition 8, California's
ban on same-sex marriage, which is likely to pave the way for
"The Golden State" to become the 13th state to recognize same-sex
unions. But while the
Supreme Court's decision reversed California's ban, the
rulings do not overturn laws banning same-sex marriage in other
states. [ Infographic:
States Where Gay Marriage Is Legal ]

In the aftermath of today's DOMA rulings, here are six ways the
lives of gay couples could be affected:

1.Inheritance

In 1996, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA),
which prevented the federal government from
recognizing same-sex marriages that were deemed legal by
individual states. With regards to federal benefits, the law
defined "marriage" as being between a man and woman.

The case challenging DOMA, U.S. v. Windsor, involved New
York residents Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, who legally married
in Toronto, Canada in 2007. After Spyer died in 2009, the
Internal Revenue Service was not allowed to recognize Windsor as
a surviving spouse eligible to inherit Spyer's property. As a
result, Windsor was required to pay more than $360,000 in federal
estate taxes, which do not apply for marriages between a man and
a woman.

Now that DOMA has been deemed unconstitutional, legally married
same-sex spouses can inherit their deceased spouse's property
without paying estate taxes.

2.Health Care

With DOMA struck down, couples in states where same-sex unions
are legal will now
have access to a range of federal benefits relating to health
care. Married same-sex couples will be able to receive employee
health coverage more easily, and be eligible for medical leave
and health benefits under COBRA. Previously, when a gay spouse
received health care benefits through his or her partner's
employer, the value of that coverage was taxed as federal income
(this was not the case for straight married couples). These extra
charges should go away on married gay couples' federal tax
returns now.

"The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court's decision
today on the Defense of Marriage Act," Defense Secretary Chuck
Hagel said in a statement. "The Department will immediately begin
the process of implementing the Supreme Court's decision in
consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive
branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the
same benefits available to all military spouses — regardless of
sexual orientation — as soon as possible. That is now the law,
and it is the right thing to do."

"Every person who serves our nation in uniform stepped forward
with courage and commitment," Hagel added. "All that matters is
their patriotism, their willingness to serve their country and
their qualifications to do so. Today's ruling helps ensure that
all men and women who serve this country can be treated fairly
and equally, with the full dignity and respect they so richly
deserve."

4.United States Citizenship

Same-sex spouses who are American citizens will now be able to
sponsor their non-citizen spouses for U.S. visas, and can qualify
for immigration measures toward citizenship. Under
DOMA, only marriages between a man and a woman were
recognized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Already, because of the Supreme Court ruling, a New York City
immigration judge has halted deportation proceedings for a
Colombian man who is legally married to a male U.S. citizen,
Think Progress reported.

5.Social Security Benefits

The Supreme Court's landmark ruling also affords social security
survivor benefits to legally married same-sex couples. This means
that in the event of death, gay people will be eligible to
receive their deceased spouses' Social Security checks, if they
amount to more than the ones currently being collected.

With the repeal of DOMA, married same-sex couples in states that
legally recognize the unions will be able to jointly file state
and federal tax returns. In states where same-sex marriage is not
recognized, however, individuals may be able to file joint
federal tax returns, but will still have to submit single tax
forms to the state.

Previously, married gay couples had to submit their state tax
returns as if they were married (either filing separately or
jointly), and their federal returns as if they were single. Now,
taxes have become significantly less complicated for gay couples
across the country.